U.S. patent application number 09/870906 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-29 for driver side air bag module with annular air bag.
Invention is credited to Burdock, John M..
Application Number | 20020117838 09/870906 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26954707 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020117838 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burdock, John M. |
August 29, 2002 |
Driver side air bag module with annular air bag
Abstract
An air bag module comprising an air bag, the air bag including:
a face panel having a first central opening therein; a rear panel
having a second central opening therein, that portion of the rear
panel about the second central opening forming a neck portion; a
tubular insert having an open end secured to the face panel about
the first central opening, the tubular insert including a closed
end opposite the open end, the tubular insert extending into the
air bag, sides of the tubular insert including at least one
opening; the tubular insert including an inflatable portion having
an open end secured about the at least one opening and upon
inflation the inflatable portion is moved into the center of the
tubular insert.
Inventors: |
Burdock, John M.; (St. Clair
Shores, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC
PATENT DEPARTMENT
7000 NINETEEN MILE ROAD
STERLING HEIGHTS
MI
48314
|
Family ID: |
26954707 |
Appl. No.: |
09/870906 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60271133 |
Feb 23, 2001 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/743.1 ;
280/728.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/21658 20130101;
B60R 21/2035 20130101; B60R 25/00 20130101; B60R 21/216 20130101;
B60R 2021/23576 20130101; B60R 21/231 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/743.1 ;
280/728.2 |
International
Class: |
B60R 021/16 |
Claims
1. An air bag module, comprising an air bag, the air bag including:
a face panel having a central, circular first opening; a rear panel
having a second opening; an inflatable, cylindrical tube or tether
member secured to the face panel, about the first opening, wherein
the cylindrical tube is closed at one end by an end panel, the
cylindrical member at an opposite second end secured to the face
panel about the first opening, wherein the first opening is not
obscured; at least one inflatable lobe secured about an opening in
a wall of the cylindrical member, the lobe on inflation of the air
bag inflates inwardly toward the center of the face panel.
2. An air bag module, comprising an air bag, the air bag including:
a control module having at least one of an informational device and
an activation button, the control module positioned centrally in
the air bag module; an air bag that is initially folded
peripherally relative to the control module and when inflated
expands to an annular configuration about the control module, the
center of the annular configuration generally coaxial with an axis
extending out of a top of the control module, the air bag including
at least one inflatable part which expands into the center of the
annular configuration providing an inflatable barrier relative to
the top of the control module; a cover located above the annulus
including a plurality of tear seams opened by the inflating air
bag.
3. The air bag module of claim 2 wherein the air bag includes at
least one inflatable lobe which when inflated is repositioned from
within the air bag to a position in which the inflatable lobe is
covering the control module.
4. The air bag module as defined in claim 2 wherein the cover
includes a plurality of tear seams on a top of the cover, the tear
seams radially located about the control module and extending
toward the outer diameter of the cover.
5. The air bag module as defined in claim 4 wherein the cover
includes an additional circumferential tear seam located generally
along a periphery of the control module.
6. The air bag module as defined in claim 5 further including a
fascia plate located on the top of the cover, within an area
defined by the circumferential tear seam.
7. The air bag module as defined in claim 5 wherein the
circumferential tear seam is circular.
8. An air bag module comprising an air bag, the air bag including:
a face panel having a first central opening therein; a rear panel
having a second central opening therein, a portion of the rear
panel about the second central opening forming a neck portion; a
tubular insert having an open end secured to the face panel about
the first central opening, the tubular insert including a closed
end opposite the open end, the tubular insert extending into the
air bag, and wherein sides of the tubular insert include at least
one opening; the tubular insert including an inflatable portion
having an open end secured about the at least one open end and upon
inflation the inflatable portion is moved into the center of the
tubular insert.
9. The module as defined in claim 8 including a center module
located within the tubular insert and positioned adjacent the
closed end.
10. The module as defined in claim 9 including an inflator for
providing inflation gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator
positioned below the center module within the air bag proximate the
neck portion.
11. The module as defined in claim 10 including a housing below the
inflator, the housing including a side wall spaced relative to
sides of the center module defining an annular space therebetween
and wherein the air bag is placed into this annular space and
inflates from this annular space.
12. The module as defined in claim 11 including a cover having a
plurality of tear seams on a top of the cover, the tear seams
radially located and extending to the outer diameter of the
cover.
13. The air bag module as defined in claim 12 wherein the cover
includes an additional circumferential tear seam located generally
proximate the periphery of the center module.
14. The air bag module as defined in claim 13 further including a
fascia plate located on the top of the cover, within an area
defined by the circumferential tear seam.
15. The air bag module as defined in claim 14 wherein the
circumferential tear seam is circular.
16. The air bag module as defined in claim 1 wherein the face panel
is circular.
17. The air bag module as defined in claim 1 wherein the first
opening is circular.
Description
[0001] This is a regularly filed utility patent application
claiming priority of provisional patent application No. 60/271,133,
filed Feb. 23, 2001.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention generally relates to driver side air bags,
modules and methods of folding an air bag.
[0003] The typical driver side air bag module comprises a housing,
an inflator, an air bag and a cover. The housing is mounted at or
near the hub of the steering wheel; the inflator and air bag are
located within the housing and the cover protects the air bag. As
the air bag inflates, the cover is broken apart thereby permitting
the inflating air bag to expand. As can be appreciated, because the
cover is a sacrificial part of the module it cannot be used to
support permanent buttons, displays, switches and the like.
[0004] Another characteristic of the prior art construction is that
on deployment, the expanding air bag is initially thrust directly
toward the occupant, which may increase the level of forceful
interference between the occupant and the expanding air bag. To
restrict this forward motion, many prior art systems have resorted
to the use of tethers, which attempt to control the trajectory of
the expanding air bag.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an air
bag module with a center control module that is fixed in
relationship to the steering wheel and one in which the air bag and
cover deploy about this fixed center control module. Consequently,
an advantage of this construction is the fixed center module can
now support control or communication mechanisms and devices such as
a horn switch, radio dials, cruise control buttons and even more
complicated and expensive visual displays for a navigation system,
including GPS satellite receiver display. These additional
mechanisms and devices will be unaffected by the deployment of the
air bag and need not be repaired when a new air bag module is
installed or can be reused in replacement air bag modules.
[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a module in
which the air bag is encouraged to initially fill radially due in
part to the fixed center control module.
[0007] Accordingly the invention comprises: an air bag module,
comprising an air bag, the air bag including: a circular face panel
having a central, circular first opening; a circular rear panel of
substantially the same diameter as that of the first panel and
having a central, circular second opening, the diameter of the
second opening being smaller than the diameter of the first
opening. An inflatable, cylindrical tube member is secured to the
face panel, about the first opening, the cylindrical member
including a rectangular panel formed into a cylinder, closed at one
end; the cylindrical member at an opposite second end is secured to
the face panel about the first opening; at least one inflatable
lobe secured about an opening in the cylindrical wall, the lobe on
inflation of the air bag inflates inwardly toward the center of the
face panel.
[0008] Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be
clear from the following detailed description of the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an assembly view showing a steering wheel and an
air bag module incorporating the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled module
fastened to the steering wheel.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a partially constructed
air bag with an extending tubular segment.
[0013] FIG. 4 is another view of the tubular segment without the
inflatable lobes.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a plan view of an additional panel of the air bag
used to form the walls of the tubular segment.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a partial view of the air bag showing the
extending tubular segment (of FIGS. 3 and 4) with inflatable lobes
extending therefrom.
[0016] FIG. 7 is another cross-sectional view of the air bag with
the center cylindrical tube pushed within the air bag.
[0017] FIG. 8 adds the center control module to the configuration
of FIG. 7.
[0018] FIG. 9 is an isolated, isometric view of an exemplary
housing 30.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an air bag module with
an unfolded air bag extending radially outward.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a module in a steering wheel.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a top view of an exemplary cover.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the air bag
inflated.
[0023] FIG. 14 shows an alternate air bag module with another
cover.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a top view of the module of FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Reference is made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, which illustrate a
driver side air bag module 20 and its various components. The
module is adapted to be secured to a steering wheel 22 and more
particularly to the hub 24 of the steering wheel. The module can be
secured or attached to the steering wheel in any of many acceptable
ways. The module 20 comprises a housing 30 having a bottom 32. The
housing can be flat or, for example, pie-shape in which case the
housing will also include an upraised side wall or walls following
the contour of the plate. As shown, the housing also includes an
optional cylindrical, circular side wall 34. The bottom 32 includes
a plurality of stud-receiving openings 34a-34d (also shown in FIG.
9). The housing 30 is received upon the center of the hub. The
module additionally includes a center (control) module 40. As
shown, the center module is circular but can be varied shapes. The
module 40 may house signal conditioning electronics and also
support one or more displays or mechanisms such as a horn switch
42, radio buttons 44, a navigation system 46 and its associated
display 48, cruise control buttons (not shown), etc. Electric wires
41 carry signals to and from the control module. FIG. 11 shows a
top view of an assembled steering wheel and air bag module with a
representative informational device. The specific shape of the
housing, center module and cover will vary with each application.
Generally, the sides of the housing and cover will cooperate with
the center module 40 to create a covered trough, which extends
about the center module to receive the folded or compressed air
bag. This trough may be circular, triangular, oval, etc. as
dictated by performance and styling considerations and, of course,
by the shape of the housing, cover and control module.
[0026] A plurality of threaded mounting studs 52 extend from the
bottom 50 of the center module. These studs extend through openings
54a-54d of a retaining ring 56, through openings 58a-58d in the
flange 60 of an inflator 62, as well as through various openings
64a-64d in the neck portion 67 of an air bag 80 (only a portion of
the air bag is shown in FIG. 1). The studs can also extend through
the hub of the steering wheel as one means of fastening the module
to the steering wheel. As can be seen in FIG. 2 the neck portion 67
of the bag is clamped between the housing and an inflator flange
60. As will be seen later, these studs also extend through other
openings in a top 110 portion of a fabric tube 100, which is part
of the air bag and is not shown in FIG. 1. This top portion is
clamped between the ring 56 and the bottom of the control module
40.
[0027] The ring 56 is generally flat having an opening 70 of
sufficient size to receive the typically cylindrical body 72 of the
inflator. If preferred, the sides of the ring can be bent to
increase its strength. The inflator includes a plurality of exit
ports 74 through which inflator gas is communicated to the air bag.
The module 20 also includes a plurality of hollow, cylindrical tube
sections or spools 76, which function as stand-offs to properly
space the center module relative to the housing 30. As can be seen
in FIG. 3, the spools 76 are positioned between the inflator flange
and the retainer.
[0028] Reference is made to FIG. 3, which illustrates many
components of the air bag 80. The air bag comprises a circular face
panel 82 and a circular rear panel 84 that are sewn together along
a peripheral seam generally shown as 86. The rear panel, at its
neck 67, includes a center opening 88, which is located interior to
the mounting openings 64a-64d (also in the neck 67). The inflator
62 is received within this opening 88. The face panel also includes
a center opening 92. The diameter of opening 92 is sufficient to
receive the center control module 40 and can be larger than opening
64. As shown in FIG. 3, this opening 92 is secured to and closed by
a center assembly 93. The center assembly 93 includes a cylindrical
extension or tube 100, made of air bag material, having a closed
end or top formed by a panel 110. The lower open end 95 (see FIG.
4) of the tube is sewn to the face panel about opening 92. The
cylindrical extension or tube 100 is fabricated using a first
rectangular panel of air bag material 102 (shown in FIG. 5), which
is formed into a cylinder or tube 100. This panel 102 includes a
plurality of openings 104a and 104b. In the preferred embodiment
two such openings are employed. Panel 110 can be made of air bag
material (or other non-porous material for example) and is sewn to
an end of the tube closing as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. Each
opening 104a and 104b is enclosed by a respective lobe, sock or bag
106. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, each lobe 106 is secured to
the panel 102 about the edges of a respective one of the openings
104a and 104b. These lobes 106 are shown in phantom line in FIG. 3.
The purpose of the lobes 106 will be apparent from the description
below. The panel 110 in the illustrated embodiment is circular in
shape as it is contemplated that the bottom of the central module
is circular. In general, however, the panel 110 would follow the
approximate contour of the module. As can be appreciated, the tube
could be sewn closed along its top, eliminating the need for a
panel 110. The top or panel 110 includes a plurality of mounting
openings 112a-112d to receive a corresponding stud 52.
[0029] Reference is made to FIG. 7, which is similar to FIG. 3. In
FIG. 7 the tube 100 has been attached to the face panel 82,
however, tube 100 has been moved, through the opening 92, from its
position shown in FIG. 3, to lie inside the air bag 80 between
panels 82 and 84. Additionally the lobes 106 have been pushed
generally radially outwardly through openings 104a and 104b and
also reside between the panels 82 and 84. In FIG. 7, the opening 92
of the face panel 82 is fully apparent with the tube 100 sewn
thereto at seam 93. With the air bag as shown in FIG. 7, the center
module 40 can be inserted through opening 92 and into the inverted
tube 100. This configuration is shown in FIG. 8. The seam 86 and
the seam 92a at the opening 92 can be internal or external (see
FIG. 3 or FIGS. 7,8). In FIG. 8, the studs 52 have been inserted
through openings 112a-112d in the top panel 110 of the tube 100.
The top panel 110 now resides adjacent the bottom 50 of the center
module 40. The center module 40 is shown within the pocket 120
formed by the now-inverted cylindrical portion or tube 100.
Thereafter, the ring 56 is inserted through the neck opening 88 and
is placed on the studs and moved upwardly to sandwich the top 110
against the bottom of the center module 40. The tubes, spools or
stand-offs 76 are then inserted onto each of the studs 56, which
extend through the top panel 110. The tubes 76 also function to
seal the openings in the ring 56 and to prevent leakage of
inflation gas out from the cylindrical portion of the air bag.
Subsequently, the inflator 60 is inserted through the neck opening
88 and positioned on the studs 54. Thereafter, the openings 64a-64d
about the neck 67 of the rear panel 84 are inserted over the studs
52. As can be seen, the neck of the rear panel lies adjacent the
bottom of the inflator. Finally the housing 30 is positioned on the
studs sandwiching the neck portion of the rear panel against the
flange of the inflator. The various parts of the module 20 can be
secured in place by respective threaded nuts 53 to achieve the
configuration as shown in FIG. 10. The same or different nuts or
fasteners can be used to secure the housing, inflator and control
module to the steering wheel 22 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0030] Prior to folding the air bag 50, the air bag 80 is extended
outwardly over the sides of the housing 30 as shown in FIG. 10.
Subsequently, the air bag 80 is folded to reside within the annular
space 130 between the interior surfaces of the housing, the
inflator and center control module 40.
[0031] The air bag can be folded in a number of different ways. For
example, the air bag can be extended radially from the housing
forming a circle and laid out flat. Thereafter, the air bag is
folded in three accordion pleats, which generally resemble the
sides of a triangle, reducing the partially folded shape to that of
an equilateral triangle. Thereafter, additional accordion pleats
are made in the points of the equilateral triangle and the folded
parts are manipulated to fit within the space 130. Alternatively,
the air bag can simply be pushed into the annular space 130.
[0032] Reference is again made to FIG. 1 as well as to FIG. 2,
which show further details of the present invention. As can be
seen, the center module 40 includes a peripheral groove 55, which
is used to secure a center opening 146 of a cover. After the air
bag is folded, it is covered by a cover 140. (A top view of the
cover is shown in FIG. 12.) In one embodiment, the cover 140 is
annular shaped and comprises a cylindrical outer wall 142 with a
flat annular top 144 having a center hole 146. The diameter of hole
146 is smaller than the diameter of groove 55 so that the lip 147
about the opening 146 can slip within the groove and be secured
thereby. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the center
module 40 is circular, however, shapes such as square or
rectangular are within the scope of the present invention. The
cover 140 additionally includes a plurality of generally radial
tear seams 148. As the air bag fills with inflation gas, the lip
147 is pulled out of the groove 55 and the cover tears along each
tear seam 148, which permits each sector or segment 144a of the
cover to move or pedal outwardly permitting the air bag to exit
about the open annular spacing between the now opened cover and the
center module.
[0033] Reference is briefly made to FIG. 13, which shows the air
bag 80 in its inflated condition. As can be seen, the face and rear
bag panels form an annulus centered about the center module. As the
air bag inflates, the center lobes 106 are pushed (by inflation
gas) radially inwardly, through the openings 104a,b, in front of
and on top of the center control module. These lobes 106 provide a
cushioned barrier between the center module and the occupant.
[0034] Reference is made to FIGS. 14 and 15, which show a variant
of the cover designated by numeral 150. The cover includes sides
142 and tear seams 148. However, in place of the opening 146, this
cover includes a center portion 152 and a plurality of openings 154
through which the various control and informational mechanisms 42,
44, 46, etc. of the center control module 40 extend. A thin tear
seam 158 joins the center portion 152 to the outer portions of the
top 148. A fascia panel 156 (shown in FIG. 14) is positioned atop
the center portion 152. The tear seam 150 can be positioned under
the fascia panel or about it. This center portion 156 prevents the
center portion from moving once the air bag tears through the tear
seams 154 and 148. The fascia panel 156 is appropriately fastened
to the center module 40.
[0035] Many changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, that scope is
intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *